tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post4402306348102898446..comments2023-10-30T11:26:24.659+00:00Comments on Single and Surviving (just): I've been FIRED.Welsh Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12892102110682697495noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-27202615497328375742009-09-18T09:39:21.155+01:002009-09-18T09:39:21.155+01:00Cal - That seems horribly unjust to builders, thou...Cal - That seems horribly unjust to builders, though no doubt fair. My expectations are always foolishly high. I idiotically think people will have pride, and a work ethic. Will I never learn?<br /><br />Milla - I'm relieved I'm not the only one to be at the receiving end of this. It does rankle doesn't it. I find myself wanting to ring them up and shout 'WHY, WHY?' down the phone in an over dramatic fashion. Might do that anyway. It sounds therapeutic...Welsh Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12892102110682697495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-55085204740987843412009-09-16T14:09:37.511+01:002009-09-16T14:09:37.511+01:00this is horribly familiar. We were turned down, to...this is horribly familiar. We were turned down, too, and the affront still rankles. Idle bastards. We ended up with some right low renters but ... they did the job, cost several meaningful thousands less than the shirkers had threatened and the house is still standing. Ish. V wearing business.Millahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15967731998504496807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-2667011420758517902009-09-16T13:23:28.206+01:002009-09-16T13:23:28.206+01:00Oh bah, boo and sucks. That's horrid.
I reme...Oh bah, boo and sucks. That's horrid.<br /><br />I remember that a (male) friend who has done major, major building and renovation works on two properties now with remarkably few problems from builders once said that the thing to remember with builders is that if they had any more brains they wouldn't actually be builders.<br /><br />ie don't have high expectations, particularly when it comes to communication, business sense etc etc and then things will be OK.Calhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360878379989903535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-1808832189519045072009-09-14T22:28:00.523+01:002009-09-14T22:28:00.523+01:00Well, at least you can count on Loyal Hound for so...Well, at least you can count on Loyal Hound for something. Glad he's prepared to do something to earn his keep.Rob-bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-75742953399398262542009-09-14T14:28:54.203+01:002009-09-14T14:28:54.203+01:00Elsie - It's oddly a relief that it is no easi...Elsie - It's oddly a relief that it is no easier when there are two of you trying to deal with it! Imagine how much champagne and how many shoes I could have if the budget went there.... No. Stop thinking that! Bad Welsh Girl. There will be NO shoes or champagne until it is done!<br />Mrs Jones - It is baffling isn't it. WHY don't they care? I am obsessive about good customer relations in my job and would never behave that way. Why should it be different for them?<br />Cathy - It was rude wasn't it? Not just me being neurotic?<br />notSupermum (though actually she is!): Are you sure your lovely builder wouldn't like a six week working holiday in Wales????<br />Lizzie: I might try the building inspectors route - it's a cunning plan.<br />Wendy - I was livid too. Now I am calmer and have moved on. New builders coming this week to price up. Fingers crossed it goes better this time, I shall be tear free and armed with biscuits. No builder could resist!<br />Justme - Recession? What recession? The builders who don't have work have put their prices up to make up for it and those that do couldn't care less that the clients don't have as much money. Bah Humbug to the lot of them.<br />Mud - They stole your forks? Really? That's just downright odd. Loyal Hound has a tendency to eat the chisel handle. Not helpful at all.<br />Rob-Bear: Same problem here. Bring back apprentices and pride in workmanship. Please. Loyal Hound has assured me that he will be helpful in stripping wallpaper and creating sawdust by chewing through random bits of wood. Excellent stuff.Welsh Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12892102110682697495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-84203414246559105382009-09-12T03:17:11.502+01:002009-09-12T03:17:11.502+01:00Oh the indignity of it all -- being fired by one&#...Oh the indignity of it all -- being fired by one's tradespeople! <br /><br />There's this thing about everybody getting a university education. It's bunk. In Canada, we desperately short of trades, and they can charge an arm and a leg for shoddy work. (We had a fire in our house a year ago; getting it fixed was NOT a good experience.)<br /><br />I wonder if Loyal Hound will help you do the work?Rob-bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171692478879522588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-28504579706088815642009-09-11T11:30:29.866+01:002009-09-11T11:30:29.866+01:00Dealing with builders as a single woman is a barre...Dealing with builders as a single woman is a barrel of laughs! I engaged a team (who came recommended) who subsequently screwed up the work completely and stole all my forks - what's that about??!<br /><br />Have since found a gold plated handiman who I keep on speed dial. But I'm afriad he's miles away in London.<br /><br />Is Loyal Hound handy with a chisel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-4249890802007565482009-09-11T11:11:33.183+01:002009-09-11T11:11:33.183+01:00Oh no, WHAT a nightmare! But I am inclined to thin...Oh no, WHAT a nightmare! But I am inclined to think that its probably as well that you found out now. If they can't do, or can't be bothered to do, accurate costings at this stage, I am guessing that they would have come in WAY over bugdet on everything. <br />I am not sure to what extent it is just down to being single, or being a woman. There seem to be so many dreadful stories about builders. Its a miracle anyone ever gets ANYTHING done. I certainly can't seem to get it organised. You really would think that in a recession, people would WANT work?? But apparently not....<br />No helpful suggestions I am sorry to say, but if you E ,mail me your new address, I will send medicinal chocolate!justmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16768035027235782814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-59968625341201859652009-09-10T18:54:43.944+01:002009-09-10T18:54:43.944+01:00I am absolutely livid and speechless after reading...I am absolutely livid and speechless after reading about your terrible builders. Clearly a case of arranging to have them pushed off the end of Llandudno Pier. I am repointing a large area of an outbuilding at the moment and doing well even if I say so myself. This was an enormous money saving on builders, how those three can give up such a good contract as you were giving them beggers belief. I am going off to cry in a corner with rage for you (this will spoil my looks and not yours so that you can look stunning for the next lot of 'builders').<br />Wendy (Wales)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-37699869103119200772009-09-10T18:38:02.910+01:002009-09-10T18:38:02.910+01:00Oh yes, I am familiar with this sort of thing but ...Oh yes, I am familiar with this sort of thing but there are ways to turn it around. Anyone in UK over age 55 can get a list of recommended workers from Age Concern (gulp, gulp, it doesn't hurt too much!) If you have any work done where the main contractor has to hire in a worker, say an electrician, plumber, there's good leads for you, and vice versa. Another way I've managed to actually get people through the door to give me quotes (I'm only working to fixed quotes on this renovation) is to approach workers at their current workplace. All the workers currently here (www.my-overall-story.blogspot.com) have come recommended by one builder who is also a neighbour. Seems 'they' are more scared of punters than we are of them. I watched a tv programme recently about rogue builders and seems a good thing to do is to check out if they have county court judgements against them, if they've been bankrupt, and also (not sure how to do this) if Trading Standards have ever been involved. I also talk to my local Buildings Control inspector from my local council - very useful person to know and he is also in contact with our planning dept (they share an office). It is a hard and challenging situation but I think as women our ways of approaching this sort of think is healthy. Good luck. liZZieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-5718768212066145362009-09-10T18:20:39.458+01:002009-09-10T18:20:39.458+01:00The plus side is that you found out they were rubb...The plus side is that you found out they were rubbish BEFORE they did any work for you. I know it's depressing trying to find a decent builder, I've been there - but recently I found a gem of a builder. So far he's done a couple of biggish jobs and several small ones, and he is reliable, on time, clean and tidy and reasonably priced. Oh yay!! I'm going to be hanging onto him for dear life - sadly, he's too far away from you to help :-(<br /><br />Good luck, hope you find someone soon. xJeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124374747737466986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-5146797041933134712009-09-10T18:20:16.253+01:002009-09-10T18:20:16.253+01:00I don't understand repairmen. Does having a va...I don't understand repairmen. Does having a vagina really make us not worthy of their attention. They wouldn't have done that to a man. It was plain rude to even send an email like that. No explaination or heading. I'd let everyone I know that they are not dependable. I had a half dozen men out here for my water line before I had the man from church come over to hear an estimate with me. How do these people make a living?<br />Hang in there and you'll find another one. Don't give up.Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01947681055574897580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-92160823093184443682009-09-10T18:04:10.971+01:002009-09-10T18:04:10.971+01:00You have my deepest sympathy, I did a post a coupl...You have my deepest sympathy, I did a post a couple of weeks ago about bloody plumbers. There's a reason that British workmen have a bad reputation, and they do nothing to contradict it.Mrs Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289121990808465890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030837390014068283.post-39189398943831899862009-09-10T17:23:42.464+01:002009-09-10T17:23:42.464+01:00Welsh Girl
Had to respond to your post as had EX...Welsh Girl <br /><br />Had to respond to your post as had EXACTLY the same situation myself with builders (in London) - builders not showing up at all, quotes being promised for weeks or months on end and never turning up, getting a quote and then being told they can't do the work etc etc. Is utterly exasperating, exhausting and frankly bewildering - how do people make a living behaving like this?? <br /><br />All I can say is hang on in there, I eventually found a decent(ish) builder & the extension's still standing, so far...(or you could stick with the 70s look and spend the £15k on champagne & shoes)<br /><br />ps I don't think the presence of a man helps - I had one with me & most builders were still rubbishElsie Tannernoreply@blogger.com